Device for carrying a milking member

ABSTRACT

The invention refers to a device for carrying a milking member, which includes four teatcups ( 3 ) and is connectable to a milking machine ( 5 ) via a flexible conduit member ( 6 ). A support element ( 10 ) is fixedly mounted at a milking box ( 13 ) for an animal to be milked and positioned with the head at the front. An arm arrangement ( 9 ) is pivotably connected to the support element and arranged to support partly the milking member during milking of the animal when the teatcups are applied to a respective teat. The arm arrangement ( 9 ) is movable from a first position beside the animal to a second position below the animal. The arm arrangement is fixedly connected to the flexible conduit member ( 6 ) at a distance from the milking member in such a way that the milking member is partly movable in relation to the arm arrangement. The device includes a force-generating member for generating, during milking, a force acting on the arm arrangement in a forward direction (x). This force is transferred to the teatcup via the conduit member.

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention refers to a device for carrying a milking member,which includes at least one teatcup and which, via a flexible conduitmember, is connectable to a milking machine arranged to provide arelatively low pressure, wherein the device includes a support element,which is fixedly mounted in or at a milking box having a front end and arear end, and being arranged to receive an animal to be milked, whereinsaid animal is positioned with the head at the front end, and an armarrangement, which is pivotably connected to the support element andarranged to support partly the milking member during milking of saidanimal and when said teatcup is applied to a teat of said animal,wherein the arm arrangement is movable from a first position, in whichthe milking member is located beside said animal, to a second position,in which the milking member is located below said animal.

A plurality of such devices for carrying a milking member are known inthe patent literature. Such carrying devices, which frequently are namedservice arms, are in typical cases in connection with manual applicationof the teatcups, intended for carrying the milking member when themilking member is moved from a position beside the animal to be milkedto a position below the animal. The milking member is released from theservice arm by the milker, which holds the milking member with his onehand and applies the teatcups with his other hand. However, many knownservice arms have the disadvantage that they, during the milking proper,influence the milking member with forces in directions which are notdesired.

EP-A-630556 discloses a device for carrying a claw with four teatcups.The claw is, via a flexible conduit member, connected to a milkingmachine which is arranged to provide a relatively low pressure. Thedevice includes a support element, which is fixedly mounted in or at amilking box arranged to receive an animal to be milked, and an armarrangement, which is pivotably connected to the support element andarranged to support the milking member in connection with theapplication of the teatcups and also during the milking proper.Furthermore, the device includes a force-generating member arranged togenerate a force acting forwardly on the claw during the milking. Theclaw is however only connected to the arm arrangement in a loose mannervia a schematically disclosed connection. The long milk conduit hangsapparently substantially loosely under the arm arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a device offering anadvantageous support for a milking member during the milking of ananimal.

This object is achieved by the device initially defined, which ischaracterised in that the arm arrangement by means of a connectingmember is fixedly connected to the flexible conduit member at a distancefrom the milking member in such a way that the milking member is partlymovable in relation to the arm arrangement, and that the device includesa force-generating member, which, during milking, is arranged togenerate a force acting on the arm arrangement in a forward direction,wherein this force is transferred to said teatcup via the conduitmember.

In such a way a very favourable influence on the milking member and theteats is achieved during the milking. It is thus possible to avoid thatthe milking member influences the teats in such a way that the milk flowthrough the teat channel of the respective teat is hindered. The forceis applied via the conduit member, and thus no direct connection of anymechanical component on the milking member is needed.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the force-generating memberis arranged to generate force with a size that is substantiallyindependent of the position of the arm arrangement during the milking.Different animals have different sizes, for instance the udder of oldercows is normally lower than the udder of younger cows. It is thusadvantageous that the generated force is independent of the position ofthe milking member, for instance if it is located at a relatively highposition or a relatively low position. With a member generating such aforce with a substantially constant size, the forwardly directed forcewill be substantially equal even if the animal moves in the box duringthe milking. Such a force may for instance be obtained by means of aforce-generating member, which includes a cylinder which includes apiston that is displaceable in the cylinder through the supply ordischarge of a fluid.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the arm arrangementis arranged to permit a relatively free movability of the milking memberin a vertical direction during the milking. In such a way it is possibleto achieve a resulting force acting on the teats in a directionobliquely downwards and forwards.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the arm arrangementincludes a tubular arm element, through which the conduit memberextends, wherein the connecting member is provided at an outer end ofthe arm element. Advantageously, the device may include a balancingmember which, during the milking, is arranged to balance the weight ofthe arm element and the conduit member.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the tubular armelement is designed as a telescope arm with at least a first part and asecond outer part, wherein the second outer part is displaceable inrelation to the first part. Such a telescope arm may in an easy mannerbe pulled out to a desired length so that the teatcups reach therespective teat. A telescope arm may also be moved together so that ittakes up a little space, and it may easily be turned away for enablingother activities, such as cleaning of the udder etc.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the first part ofthe telescope arm includes one of said cylinder and piston, wherein thesecond part of the telescope arm includes the other of said cylinder andpiston. Advantageously, the cylinder may be formed by the first part ofthe telescope arm and the piston by the second part of the telescopearm.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the arm arrangementincludes a rotary member, which is arranged to permit rotation of thearm element in a first rotary direction about a rotary axis of therotary member during the movement of the arm arrangement from the firstposition to the second position. The rotary member may advantageously beconnected to the first part of the telescope arm. Furthermore, therotary member may be connected to the support element.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the milking memberincludes a claw, which is connected to the conduit member, and fourteatcups, which are connected to the claw via a respective short milkconduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is now to be explained more closely by means ofvarious embodiments and with reference to the drawings attached.

FIG. 1 discloses schematically a side-view of a device according to afirst embodiment of the invention in a first position.

FIG. 2 discloses schematically a side-view of a device in FIG. 1 in asecond position.

FIG. 3 discloses a perspective view of an embodiment of a deviceaccording to the invention.

FIG. 4 discloses a side-view of the device in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 discloses schematically an exploded view of a force-generatingmember of the device in FIGS. 1–4.

FIG. 6 discloses a perspective view of a first locking part of thedevice in FIGS. 1–4.

FIG. 7 discloses a perspective view of a second locking part of thedevice in FIGS. 1–4.

FIG. 8 discloses schematically a partly demounted rotary member of thedevice in FIGS. 1–4.

FIG. 9 discloses a perspective view of a number of components of therotary member in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 discloses a perspective view of a piston of the rotary member inFIG. 8.

FIG. 11 discloses a view of a tooth washer of the rotary member in FIG.8.

FIG. 12 discloses a view of a part of two tooth washers of the rotarymember in FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 discloses a view from above of a device according to a secondembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 discloses a side-view of the device in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1–2 disclose a device arranged to carrying a milking member 1. Themilking member 1 includes a schematically disclosed claw 2 and fourteatcups 3, see FIGS. 2–4. The teatcups 3 are connected to the claw 2via a respective short milk conduit and a respective short pulse conduit(not disclosed). The milking member 1 thus has a conventional designknown per se. Furthermore, the milking member 1 is in a conventionalmanner connected to a milking machine 51 which is disclosedschematically in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 via a conduit member 6, which at leastincludes a long milk conduit and/or at least a long pulse conduit. Themilking machine 5 includes a vacuum pump 7 and a milk collecting member8.

The device according to the invention includes an arm arrangement 9 anda support element 10. The support element 10 is in the embodimentdisclosed attached to a substantially vertical wall 11 in a milkingparlour. In the milking parlour 12, the milker is present, the purposeof whose is to apply the teatcups 3 to the teats of the animal to bemilked. The animal (not disclosed) is standing in a milking box 13, theground 14 of which is indicated in FIGS. 1–4. In the embodimentdisclosed, it is intended that the cow is standing with her rear partturned to the milking parlour 12 and thus having the head turnedforwardly in the direction x from the milking parlour 12. The supportelement 10 is attached to the substantially vertical wall 11 by means ofan attachment plate 15 and extends substantially horizontally outwardlyfrom the wall 11. The support element 10 includes at its outer end aswing joint 16, which includes a swingable part 17 on which a swing arm18 of the arm arrangement 9 is provided. The swing arm 18 is thusswingable in a substantially vertical plane in a rotary direction a, seeFIG. 3. The swing arm 18 is partly formed by a spring element 19, whichgives a limited elasticity to the swing arm 18. The swing arm 18 isswingable between at least a substantially vertical position, which isdisclosed in FIGS. 1–4, and a rest position (not disclosed) in which theswing arm 18 has been swinged laterally so that it extends with an angleof inclination of about 10–50° in relation to a horizontal plane. Insuch a way, the arm arrangement 9 may be turned away in the restposition and the milker has free access for cleaning of the udder of theanimal present in the milking box 13.

Furthermore, the arm arrangement 9 includes a rotary member 22, which isprovided at the upper end of the swing arm 18. The rotary member 22 isconnected to the swing arm 18 by means of a further rotary joint 23permitting the rotation of the rotary member 22 in a rotary direction babout a rotary axis being substantially concentric with the swing arm18.

Furthermore, the arm arrangement 9 includes a telescope arm 30, which isprovided on the rotary member 22. The telescope arm 30 is rotatable in arotary direction c between a first, substantially vertical position, seeFIG. 1, and a second substantially horizontal position, see FIG. 2-4. Itis to be noted that the second substantially horizontal position mayincline upwards or downwards depending on the animal to be milked. Thetelescope arm 30 is rotatable by means of a mechanism of the rotarymember 22. This mechanism is to be explained more closely below. Thetelescope arm 30 includes a first part 31 and a second part 32. Thesecond part 32 is projectable out from and introduceable into the firstpart 31. The second part 32 thus functions as a piston in the first part31 that functions as a cylinder. Between the first part 31 and secondpart 32 a space 33 is formed, which is sealed from the environment bymeans of a piston ring 34 that is fixedly connected to the second part32 and a cylinder ring 35 that is fixedly connected to the first part31. The telescope arm 30 is tubular and arranged to receive the conduitmember 6 extending through the whole telescope arm 30. The conduitmember 6 is fixedly connected to the second part 32 and morespecifically in the forward end of the second part 32 by means ofelastic clamping jaws 29 or any similar connecting member. The positionof the milking member 1 in relation to the second part 32 of thetelescope arm 30 is thus fixed and the milking member 1 is located at asmall distance from the second part 32, which distance permits a certainmovability of the milking member 1 in relation to the telescope arm 30thanks to the flexibility of the conduit member 6 connecting the secondpart 32 and the milking member 1, see FIG. 2.

Thanks to the above described movabilities of the arm arrangement 9 amoving pattern according to the following is obtained. In a restposition of the device, the swing arm 18 is turned downwards to the restposition mentioned above. In this rest position, the telescope arm 30extends in substantially the same direction as the swing arm 18. Whenthe milking member 1 is to be applied, the milker grips two of theteatcups 3 and pull them upwardly so that the swing arm 18 takes thesubstantially vertical position. When this movement of the swing arm 18is initiated also the vacuum application is activated, which is to beexplained more closely below. At the same time or immediately after theachievement of the vertical position, the milker moves the two teatcups3 forwardly, wherein the telescope arm 30 will be turned downwardly andthe second part 32 of the telescope arm 30 is pulled outwardly to thesubstantially horizontal position disclosed in FIG. 2. By means of asmall lifting of the teatcups 3 and the telescope arm 20, the armarrangement 9 is locked in the position achieved, which is to beexplained more closely below. Consequently, the teatcups 3 may in aneasy manner be applied two and two to the teats of the animal withoutthe need for the milker to hold the claw 2 proper.

The device also includes a first locking member including a firstlocking part 41, which is fixedly connected to the milking member 1, anda second locking part 42, which is displaceably provided on theprojectable second part 32 of the telescope arm 30. The second lockingpart 42 is displaceable between a locking position (see FIG. 1), inwhich the second locking part 42 is in locking engagement with the firstlocking part 41, and thus locks and fixes the milking member in relationto the telescope arm 30, and a releasing position (see FIG. 2), in whichthe second locking part 42 is not in engagement with the first lockingpart 41, wherein the milking member 1 is partly movable in relation tothe telescope 30 thanks to the flexibility of the conduit member 6. Thefirst locking part 41 is disclosed more closely in FIG. 6 and the secondlocking part 42 is disclosed more closely in FIG. 7.

Furthermore, the arm arrangement 9 includes a second locking member 50,which is arranged to permit the projecting of the second part 32 of thetelescope arm 30 out from the first part 31 and the locking of thesecond part 32 in relation to the first part 31 in an opposite movementdirection. The second locking member 50 is disclosed in FIGS. 1, 2 and5. The second locking member 50 includes a cylinder 51, which is fixedlyprovided on a first part 31 of the telescope arm 30, and a piston 52,which is movably provided in the cylinder 51. The piston 52 is connectedto a piston rod 53, which in turn is pivotably connected by a lockingwasher 54. The locking washer 54 is also pivotably connected to thefirst part 31 or, as is disclosed in FIG. 5, a housing 55 housing thecylinder 51 and substantially all components of the locking member 50.The locking washer 54 is biased in a direction forwardly to abutmentagainst a stop shoulder 56 by means of a spring 57. The locking washer54 includes an opening through which a rod 58 extends in a displaceablemanner. The rod 58 is in its forward end via an attachment 59 fixedlyconnected to the second part 32 of the telescope arm 30. The attachment59 extends through a longitudinal slot 60 in the second locking part 42.If the rod 58 is displaced forwardly, i.e. when the second part 32 movesoutwardly from the first part 31, a forwardly directed force will beapplied to the locking washer 54 in such a way that it comes to aposition in which it does not prevent the continuing forwardly directedmovement of the rod 58. By means of the cylinder 51 and the piston 52the locking washer 54 may however be pulled rearwardly, wherein it bymeans of an inclined position will prevent the rod 58 from movingrearwardly and thus the introduction of the second part 32 into thefirst part 31. The cylinder 51 forms two cylinder spaces 61, 62, one oneach side of the piston 52. These cylinders spaces 61, 62 are connectedto a control unit 63 via a respective vacuum conduit 64, 65. The controlunit 63 is arranged to apply a vacuum to one of said spaces 61, 62. Thevacuum, or a relatively low pressure, is supplied by the vacuum pumpbeing a component in the schematically disclosed milking machine 5. If avacuum is supplied to the space 61 via the conduit 64 the locking washer54 will thus be pulled rearwardly and lock the first part in theposition achieved. If the vacuum is applied to the space 62 via theconduit 65, the locking washer 54 will be displaced forwardly towardsthe stop shoulder 56 and thus permit the second part 32 to move freelyin relation to the first part 31.

The device also includes a sensor 66 of an electric or pneumatic type,which is provided on the second part 32. The sensor 66 is arranged todetect when the second locking part 42 is pulled rearwardly and therebyinitiate the milking state of the device by delivering a signal to thecontrol unit 63, which then applies a vacuum to the space 62, whichreleases the second part 32, and to the space 33, via a conduit 67,which creates a force acting on the milking member 1 during the milkingand extending in a forward direction x. Furthermore, the control unit 63will interrupt the vacuum supply to the rotary member 22, which is to bedescribed more closely below. The telescope arm 30 thus functions duringthe milking as a force-generating member exerting a forwardly directedforce in the forward direction x to the milking member 1 and theteatcups 3. By the forward direction x is meant a direction towards theforward end of the box, and towards the forward part of the animal to bemilked.

Furthermore, the arm arrangement 9 includes a third locking member,which is comprised by the rotary member 22 and which is arranged toenable locking of the telescope arm 30 in a reached rotary position.This locking is achieved by the rotation of the telescope arm 30 in asecond rotary direction c′, which is opposite to the first rotarydirection c. The function of this locking appears from the followingdescription of the rotary member 22, see FIGS. 8–12. The rotary member22 includes a housing 70 with two end pieces 71 and 72, which arefixedly provided on the housing 70. A shaft 73 extends through thehousing 70 and an opening in the respective end piece 71, 72. The shaft73 includes a pin 74, which is fixedly connected to the telescope arm 30in such a way that the telescope arm 30 is not rotatable in relation tothe shaft 73. A piston housing 75 is fixedly provided on the shaft 73 bymeans of a locking wedge 76. A cam-disc 77 is fixedly provided on thepiston housing 75 and thus also the cam-disc 77 is fixed in relation tothe shaft 73. A torsion spring 78 is with a first end attached to theend piece 71 and with a second end to the cam-disc 77.

The torsion spring 78 is designed in such way that it exerts a liftingforce to the telescope arm 30 in the position disclosed in FIG. 2. Thislifting force of the torsion spring 78 will thus function as a balancingmember in the position disclosed in FIG. 2. It is to be noted that thetorsion spring 78 exerts a force which only corresponds to the weight ofthe arm 30 and the conduit member 6, and thus not the weight of themilking member 1 and the teatcups 3.

The piston housing 75 includes a piston 79, see FIG. 10, which isproject able out from the piston housing 75. The piston 79 includes oneor several projections 80, in the embodiment disclosed three projection80, which are arranged to engage three opening 81 of a first toothwasher 82, see FIG. 11. The first tooth washer 82 is rotatably providedon the shaft 73 and when the piston 79 is displaced out from the pistonhousing 75 the first tooth washer 82 will thus be locked in relation tothe shaft 73. The first tooth washer 82 is arranged to co-operate with asecond tooth washer 83, which is provided in the housing 70 in such away that it is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the shaft73 against the action of a compression spring 84, but not rotatable inrelation to the housing 70 thanks to four projections 85 which are inengagement with grooves (not disclosed) of the inner wall of the housing70. The tooth washers 82 and 83 include a respective tooth ring withfirst flanks 87 with a relatively plane inclination and second flanks 88with a relatively steep inclination, see FIG. 12. When the piston 79 isin projected position and thus in engagement with the first tooth washer82, the rotary axis 73, and thus the telescope arm 30, will berelatively fixed in relation to the rotary member 22 and the swing arm18. Thanks to the relatively plane flanks 87, the rotary shaft 73 andthe telescope arm 30 may be rotated upwards by overcoming a relativelysmall force. It is also possible to rotate the telescope arm 30 and theshaft 73 downwards by overcoming a relatively large force thanks to theinclined, relatively steep flanks 88.

The position of the piston 79 in the piston housing 75 is controlled bymeans of the application of a vacuum via the control unit 63. The pistonhousing 75 is connected to the control unit 63 (see FIG. 1) via a vacuumconduit 90, which is connected to a shut-off valve 91. From the shut-offvalve 91 a vacuum conduit 92 extends further to a connection 93 of thepiston housing 75. The shut-off valve 91 includes a manoeuvring pin 94the position of which is controlled by the cam-disc 77. When thetelescope arm 30 is rotated downwards, the manoeuvring pin 94 will abutthe peripheral surface of the cam-disc 77 and by means of friction bemaintained in an upwardly directed position, wherein the shut-off valve91 is closed and no vacuum is applied to the piston housing 75. Duringthis movement, the piston 79 is pulled into the piston housing 75, andthe telescope arm 30 and the shaft 73 are thus freely rotatable inrelation to the rotary member 22. When the desired position of thetelescope arm 30 has been reached, the telescope arm 30 is somewhatlifted, wherein the manoeuvring pin 94 is rotated downwards and opensthe shut-off valve 91, wherein vacuum is applied to the piston housing75. Consequently, the piston 79 will be projected outwardly against theaction of a compression spring (not disclosed) and engage the toothwasher 82, wherein the telescope arm 30 is locked in the rotary positionachieved. A relative locking or fixing of the telescope arm 30 in thisrotary position is thus achieved. As mentioned above, it is howeverthanks to the flanks 87, 88 possible to rotate the telescope arm 30 byapplying a small and large rotary force, respectively. When the lockedrotary position is to be released, the supply of the relatively lowpressure is interrupted by means of the control unit 63, wherein thecompression spring mentioned above retracts the piston 79 out ofengagement with the tooth washer 82.

Furthermore, the device includes a removing member 100 with a rotarymotor of a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric type. The drive motor of theremoving member 100 is connected to a pulling line 101, which extendsvia a guide 102 into the telescope arm 30 and is connected to theprojectable second part 32. Removal of the milking member 1 is initiatedin a conventional manner via the control unit 63 when the milking is tobe finished. The drive motor of the removing member 100 will thus pullthe pulling line 101 and the second part 32 rearwardly, wherein theteatcups 3 are pulled off from the teats of the animal. At the same timethe vacuum application to the cylinder 51 and the piston housing 75 isdeactivated, via the control unit 63, in such a way that the armarrangement 9 will be freely movable. When the second part 32 has beenpulled into the first part 31, the telescope arm 30 is rotated upwardlyby means of a continuing pulling in the pulling line 101, and the swingarm 18 is swinged downwardly and laterally. This moving pattern may beobtained by means of a suitable location of the drive motor of theremoving member 100.

The device also includes an activating device with a sensing member 110(see FIG. 1), which in the embodiment disclosed is provided at the swingjoint 16. When the swing arm 18 is swinged in relation to the supportelement 10, the sensing member 110 will activate the control unit 63 bya signal, wherein the control unit 63 initiates the vacuum applicationto the various components of the device and to the milking member 1 andthe teatcups 3. This is obtained by opening of a schematically disclosedclosing valve 111 of the milking machine 5. The sensing member 110 isarranged to be activated as soon as the swinging of the swing arm 18from the downwardly turned rest position is initiated. The sensingmember 110 may of course be located in many different positions and inmany different manners of the device, for instance at the rotary member22, the rotary joint 23 and/or the telescope arm 30. The sensing member110 may include a mechanical element, which is brought to a movementwhen the swing arm 18 is swinged, or include optical, inductive or anysimilar member for sensing a movement of the swing arm 18. The sensingmember 110 is connected to the control unit 63 via a connecting member112 of electric, pneumatic, hydraulic or mechanical type.

The embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1–12 refers to an arm arrangement,which is primarily intended for introduction between the rear legs ofthe animal to be milked.

FIGS. 13 and 14 disclose a second embodiment that refers to an armarrangement, which primarily is intended for being introduced from theside of the animal to be milked. It is to be noted that the samereference signs have been used in the description of all embodiments forcomponents with the same or a similar function.

The device according to the second embodiment includes an armarrangement 9 and a support element 10. The support element 10 is alsoin the second embodiment attached to a substantially vertical wall 11 ina milking parlour 12. The animal (not disclosed) stands in a milking box13 with the head directed in the direction x in parallel with themilking parlour 12. The support element 10 extends substantiallyvertically and in parallel with the wall 11. The support element 10includes at its outer end a swing joint 16 which includes a swingablepart 17 on which a rotary member 22 of the arm arrangement 9 isprovided.

The arm arrangement also includes a tubular arm element 30 that isconnected to the rotary member 22. As appears from FIGS. 13 and 14, theconduit member 6 extends through the tubular arm element 30. The conduitmember 6 is fixedly connected to the arm element 30 and more preciselyin the forward end of the arm element 30 by means of elastic clampingjaws 29 or any similar connecting member. Also the second embodiment mayinclude locking parts of the type disclosed in the first embodiment forlocking the milking member during the movement from the first positionto the second position.

The arm element 30 is swingable in a vertical plane in a rotarydirection d by means of the swing joint 16. The arm element 30 is alsoswingable in a substantially horizontal plane in a rotary direction e,e′ about an axis of the rotary member 22 between a first position besidethe animal to be milked and a second position below the animal to bemilked.

According to the second embodiment the following movement pattern isachieved for the arm arrangement 9. In a rest position of the device,the arm element 30 is rotated to the first position, which is indicatedwith dashed lines in FIG. 13 and in which the arm element 30 extendssubstantially in parallel with the box 13 and the direction x. When themilking member 1 is to be applied, the milker grips two of the teatcups3 and pulls them inwardly so that the arm element 30 takes the secondposition disclosed with continuous lines in FIG. 13. When this movementof the arm element 30 is initiated, also the vacuum application isactivated in the same way as in the first embodiment. The rotary member22 may also in the second embodiment be arranged to lock the arm element30 in the second position in a similar way as in the first embodiment inorder to permit the application of the teatcups 3 without requiring thatthe milker holds the claw 2 proper.

The torsion spring 78, which is described in the first embodiment, mayin the second embodiment be provided in the swing joint 16 and arrangedto exert a lifting force to the arm element 30 and to balance the weightof the arm element 30 and the conduit member 6 during the milking.

The device according to the second embodiment also includes aforce-generating member in the form of a pneumatic cylinder 120, whichduring the milking generates a force acting on the arm element 30substantially in the direction x. The generated force is transferred tothe teatcups 3 via the conduit member 6, the claw 2 and the milkconduits 4. Such a cylinder 120 may generate a substantially uniformforce independent of the position of the arm arrangement during themilking. The cylinder 120 is via a joint 121 connected to a stationarysupport member 122. The cylinder 120 is swingable in a horizontal planeand in a vertical plane. The cylinder 120 forms a space in which apiston 123 is movably provided. The piston 123 is connected to a pistonrod 124 that via a joint 125 is connected to the arm element 30. Thepiston rod 124 is also swingable in all directions in relation to thearm element 30. In the second embodiment, the piston rod 124 will bepulled into the cylinder 121 when a relatively low pressure is appliedto the space in the cylinder 120, i.e. the arm element 30 is pulledtowards the first position and a force, which extends in a forwarddirection, is exerted to the teatcups 3. The low pressure may be appliedby means of the vacuum pump 7 of the milking machine 5 via a vacuumconduit 130 and the control unit 63, which for instance may initiate theapplication the low pressure when it receives a signal from a sensor ofthe type defined in the first embodiment.

The device according to the second embodiment also includes anactivating device with a sensing member 110 (see FIG. 13), which in theembodiment disclosed is provided on the arm element 30 in the proximityof the rotary member 22. When the arm element 30 is rotated in relationto the support element 10, the sensing member 110 will activate thecontrol unit 63 by a signal, wherein the control unite 63 initiates thevacuum application to the various components of the device and to themilking member 1 and the teatcups 3. This may be obtained by opening ofthe schematically disclosed shut-off valve 111 of the milking machine 5in the same way as in the first embodiment, or alternatively by startingthe vacuum pump of the milking machine 5. The sensing member 110 isarranged to be activated as soon as the rotation of the arm element 30from the first position is initiated. The sensing member 110 may ofcourse be located in many different positions and in many different waysof the device according to the second embodiment, for instance at theswing joint 16, the cylinder 120, the joint 1212 and/or the joint 125.Furthermore, the sensing member 110 may include a mechanical elementwhich is brought into am movement when the arm element 30 is rotated, orinclude optical, inductive or any similar member for sensing of amovement of the arm element 30.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but may bevaried and modified within the scope of the following claims. It is tobe noted that the force-generating member for achieving a substantiallyuniform force may be realised also in other ways than with the pneumaticcylinders 30, 120 disclosed, for instance pneumatic cylinders beingsupplied with pressurised air, hydraulic cylinders, rotation motors ofelectric, pneumatic, or hydraulic type, electrical linear motors etc.

1. A device for carrying a milking member, which includes at least oneteatcup and which, via a flexible conduit member, is connectable to amilking machine arranged to provide a relatively low pressure, whereinthe device includes: a support element, which is fixedly mounted in orat a milking box having a front end and a rear end and being arranged toreceive an animal to be milked, wherein the animal is positioned withthe head of the animal at the front end, and an arm arrangement, whichis pivotably connected to the support element and arranged to supportpartly the milking member during milking of the animal and when saidteatcup is applied to a teat of the animal, wherein the arm arrangementis movable from a first position, in which the milking member is locatedbeside said the animal, to a second position, in which the milkingmember is located below the animal, wherein the arm arrangement by meansof a connecting member is fixedly connected to the flexible conduitmember at a distance from the milking member in such a way that themilking member is partly movable in relation to the arm arrangement, andwherein the device includes a force-generating member, which, duringmilking, is arranged to generate a force acting on the arm arrangementin a forward direction, wherein this force is transferred to saidteatcup via the conduit member.
 2. A device according to claim 1,wherein the force-generating member is arranged to generate a force of asize that is substantially independent of the position of the armarrangement during milking.
 3. A device according to claim 1, whereinthe force-generating member includes a cylinder, which includes a pistonthat is displaceable in the cylinder through the supply or the dischargeof a fluid.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the armarrangement is arranged to permit a relatively free movability of themilking member in a vertical direction during the milking.
 5. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the arm arrangement includes a tubular armelement through which the conduit member extends, wherein the connectingmember is provided at an outer end of the arm element.
 6. A deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the device includes a balancing memberwhich, during the milking, is arranged to balance the weight of the armelement and the conduit member.
 7. A device according to claim 5,wherein the tubular arm element is designed as a telescope arm with atleast a first part and a second outwardly projectable part, wherein thesecond outer part is displaceable in relation to the first part.
 8. Adevice according to claim 2, wherein the arm arrangement includes atubular arm element through which the conduit member extends, whereinthe connecting member is provided at an outer end of the arm element andwherein the tubular arm element is designed as a tubular arm with atleast a first part and a second outwardly projectable part, the secondoutwardly projectable part being displaceable in relation to the firstpart, and wherein the first part of the telescope arm includes one ofsaid cylinder and piston, wherein the second outwardly projectable partof the telescope arm includes the other of said cylinder and piston. 9.A device according to claim 8, wherein the cylinder is formed by thefirst part of the telescope arm and by the piston of the secondoutwardly projectable part of the telescope arm.
 10. A device accordingto claim 4, wherein the arm arrangement includes a rotary member and atubular arm element, wherein the tubular arm element is connected to therotary member, which is arranged to permit rotation of the arm elementin a first rotary direction about a rotary axis of the rotary memberduring the movement of the arm arrangement from the first position tothe second position.
 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein thetubular arm element is designed as a telescope arm with at least a firstpart and a second part, wherein the second outwardly projectable part isdisplaceable in relation to the first part and wherein the rotary memberis connected to the first part of the telescope arm.
 12. A deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein the rotary member is connected to thesupport element.
 13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the milkingmember includes a claw, which is connected to the conduit member, andfour teatcups, which are connected to the claw via a respective shortmilk conduit.
 14. A device according to claim 2, wherein theforce-generating member includes a cylinder which includes a piston thatis displaceable in the cylinder through the supply or the discharge of afluid.
 15. A device according to claim 2, wherein the arm arrangement isarranged to permit a relatively free movability of the milking member ina vertical direction during the milking.
 16. A device according to claim2, wherein the arm arrangement includes a tubular arm element throughwhich the conduit member extends, wherein the connecting member isprovided at an outer end of the arm element.
 17. A device according toclaim 2, wherein the milking member includes a claw which is connectedto the conduit member, and four teatcups which are connected to the clawvia a respective short milk conduit.
 18. A device according to claim 6,wherein the tubular arm element is designed as a telescope arm with atleast a first part and a second outwardly projectable part, wherein thesecond outwardly projectable part is displaceable in relation to thefirst part.
 19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the armarrangement includes a rotary member, wherein the tubular arm element isconnected to the rotary member, which is arranged to permit rotation ofthe arm element in a first rotary direction about a rotary axis of therotary member during the movement of the arm arrangement from the firstposition to the second position.
 20. A device according to claim 11, inthat the rotary member is connected to the support element.